Terminal lock for flexible tubing



11932? HQAuEARNEST 1,841,318 4 TERMINAL LOCK'FOR FLEXIBLE ubma- Filed June 10' 1930 @m-iiiii NVENTQR.

HA -Earnea A TTORNEY.

I possib Jim. 12, 19.32

' cm rao 's rA'ras "PATENT orrica man! A. nammsr, or 'mcasm rmsnlvsiun 1.001: roa FLEXIBLE mum application flcd'lune 10, mo. Serial in. 460,187.

I This invention is-addressed the pro-' vision of novel andimproved locking meansstance I have illustrated my invention as applied to a speedometer drive. Speedometers 1 are frequently relied upon to reg ster accurately distances, numbers of rotation or ope erative movements. Where this is an ob ect itis important to assure the registering device a ainst unauthorized-tampering or the ifiity of its being disconnected from the operating device which it isintended to register. An example ofthis condition occurs in the. use of speedometers onautomobiles which are used for hire or rented on the basis of the mileage traveled according to the registration of thespeedometer. Any tampering with the speedometer which would interfere with the normal drive connection between the speedometer and the driving mechanical elemy invention provides asimple and effective means for locking the terminal connections between the speedometer and the driving element. Z

It is also an object of my invention to provide an easily replaceable device of economical manufacture.

Other objects of my invention will be evident from the following description of the preferred form ofmy invention as illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

Fi 1 is a front elevation of a speedometer and t eupper end of the flexible drive;

" in section;

Q Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same-with the locking sleeve in a free position;

. ig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the opposite or lower locking connection; L Fig. 5'is an enlarged fragmentary section oflthe latter; em I ig. 6 is an ar entary section of the upper connect i l 81Fig. 7 s a perspective view of the locking an interna ly groove Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly v jumon whlch consists 1n part of a collar 24- ing thereover ofthe knurled 'nut 25. This nut By way of illustration I have shown the invention as embodiedin the flexible drive connection between a speedometer and the driving element in the transmission gear. The

speedometer face plate 11' is customaril mounted on front of a dash board 12 whic may be of varyin width up to the limit indicated in Fig. 2. e speedometer casin' 13 passes through a hole" in the dash board 12 and carries lugs 14. Holding bolts 15 are brazed, riveted or otherwise attached to the face plate 11 and connect thelatter through the dash board with the lugs 14.. To prevent. any irregular tightening of the bolts 15, the latter carry spacers 16. The ends of the bolts 15 carry grooved nuts 17 by which the bolts are tightenedtothe limit permitted by the spacers 16. Each grooved nut 17 carries a split rin 18 in the groove and by means of cap 19 the split ring 18-forms a lock which prevents access to the nut 17. The cap 19 will of course be free to rotate without loosening the nut 17 y The back 20 of the speedometer casing is attached to the latter by-means of nuts 21, some or all of which may be without heads as indicated in Fig. 2, being finished level with the outer surface of the e to prevent any removal'by the usual tools. The back 20 has a screw threaded fitting 22 which is adapted to .surround the operating flexible shaft and also to receive the. union on the flexible tubing in which the shaft rotates.

As a cover for the flexible, drive shaft I use a metallic interwoven flexible armorl tubing 23 of well known manufacture. and characterized by its ability to preventlongitudinal extension or sharp bending.

Each end of the armored tubing carries a riveted or otherwise applied -firmly ,to the ends of the tubing 23. The collar 24 is flanged at the free end to liniit the fneeslidis threaded on the fitting 22 in-the customary manner to bring the collar and fittin in direct contact with the end of the flexib c drive shaft interlocking with the speedometer. drive. Y

a stop as a Missa 1o ing, upsetting :50 the tubin attached on the tubing 23 and in spaced relation with the collar'24. This stop forms an abutment for the locking element laterto be disclosed. Split ring 27 is assembled on 5 the fitting 22 prior to the attachment of the adapted to receive the split ring 27. The

sleeve 28 is of course assembled upon the tubin 23 rior to the attachment of the union altflioug it is equally feasible to apply the sleeve 28 as an open ended tubing and there- 2'0 after flange the rear end 29 to form an abutment for the stop 26.

The opposite end of the tubing 23 carries a similar union collar 24 and knurled nut 25.

This union is adapted to connect with the 25.screw threaded fitting 31 on the transmission housing 32 or similar support for the gear which rives the flexible shaft. In like manner a secondstop 26 is provided at this end, of the tubing 23. The lower locking 80 sleeve 33 is generally of the same form and function as that above described for the upper locking sleeve. A modified form of locking means, however, is shown in Fig. 4 where the sleeve at its free end carries inwardly 85 disposed and directed spring fingers 34 which are adapted to ride over the knurled nut 25 and lock against the rear edge of the latter.

The operation and utility of the above device will be readily apparent. The flexible tube of armored type 1s supplied with the upper and lower sleeves 28 and 33 respectiveli. With the sleeves in retracted position as s own in Fig. 3 the unions are connected to the fittings 22 and 31. The split ring 27 has previously been ap lied to the fitting 22.

The sleeve 28 may t en be slid along tubing 23 over the knurled nut 25 and into engagement with the split ring 27. At this moment the stop 26 serves to hold the sleeve and 23 from free longitudinal movement. Tfie 'sleeve 28 and the split ring 27 completely cover the knurled nut 25 and prevent its being reached for unscrewin It is to be understood that the sleeve 28 is r'eely 5 rotatable around the knurled nut 25. His, therefore, impossible for the tubing to be disconnected from the fitting o; tobe stretched sufiiciently to disengage the eou-,

pling of the flexible shaft. The end 29of the Sleeve ,p'rojeets far enough to be readily visible on inspection and also 'to prevent undesirable sharp bends of the shaft near the fitting 22. J I

'In like manner the opposite end of the tubing 23 can be applied by means of the knurled nut 25 to fitting 31 after which the sleeve 33 is caused to ride over the knurled nut until the spring fingers 34.- engage the edge of the latter. The sleeve 33 serves to prevent sharp bonds at this end of the shaft andalso prevents either the disengagement of the shaft by pulling the tubing out or the disconnection of the knurled nut from the fitting.

The result is that the speedometer drive is positively connected to the rotating element which it is desired to register without danger of unauthorized disconnection or breakage.

While I have described the preferred form I of my invention it is apparent that numerous changes in minor details may be carried out within the scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a coupling fitting, a flexible armored tubing, a coupling member on one end of said tubing, guard means s1idable along said tubing and concealed locking means for locking said guard means over said. coupling fitting and member.

2. In combination witha coupling fitting,

a flexible armored tubing, a coupling memher on one end of said tubing, a stop on said tubing, guard means slidable along said tubing over said stop and concealed locking means for locking said guard means over said coupling fittingand member. 3. In combination with a fitting, a flexible tubing, a union on the end thereof comprising a collar and a nut, a sleeve slidable on the tubing, a restricted end on the sleeve, and concealed locking means for locking the other end of the sleeve over the union.

4. In combination with a fitting, a flexible tubing, :1. union on the end thereof comprising a collar and a nut, a sleeve slidable on the tubing, a restricted end on the sleeve, a stop on the tubing for said restricted end and concealed locking means for lockingthe other end of the sleeve over the union.

5. In combination with a screw-threaded 1 fitting, a flexible tubing, a union on the end thereof comprising a collar and a nut for attachment to the fitting, a sleeve slidable on the tubing, said sleeve having an internal groove and a concealed resilient ring on the fitting for locking engagement with said groove beyond said nut.

6. In combination with a screw-threaded fitting, a flexible tubing, a union on the end thereof comprising a collar and a nut for attachment to the fitting, a sleeve slidable on the .tubin and concealed resilient means carried within one end of the sleeve for locking engagement over the end of the nut.

In combination, a register casing means for locking the casing, a fitting on t e casing, a housing for a movable element, a fitting on the housing, a flexible tubing, a coupling at each end of the tubing for connection with said fittings, guards on the tubing and concealed locking means for locking a guard over each coupling.

8. In combination, a register having a fitting, a housing havinga fittin a. flexible tubing, a union comprising a co at and a nut for the fittings at each end of the tubing, sleeves on the tubing and concealed locking means for. locking each sleeve over a nut. v

9. In combination, a register casing having a fitting, a housing having a fitting, a flexible tubing, a collar and nut for a fitting at each end of the tubing, a stop spaced from each end of the tubing, sleeves on the tubing and concealed means for locking each sleeve in contact with a stop and a nu 10. In combination,a register casing having a fitting, a housing-having a fittmg, a flexible tubing, .a collar and nut for a fitting at each end of the tubing, a stop spaced from each endof the tubing, sleeves on the tubing and concealed resilient mean carried by each sleeve for locking engagement against a nut. v

11. In combination, a register casin having a fitting, a flexibletubing, conceale locking means for locking saidtubing in engagement with the fitting, said casing being assembled from two or more parts and means for preventing the disassembly of said parts. i

12. In combination, a register cas' having a fitting, a flexible tubing, conceale locking means for locking said tubing in engagement with the fitting, said casing bein assembled from two or more parts with olts and a locking cap for one of said-bolts.

In testimony whereof, I afiix-my signature.

HARRY A. EARNEST. 

